Finger-Powered Toy Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle that is configured to be propelled along a support surface by the force of a user&#39;s finger, including a chassis that carries at least one wheel that allows the vehicle to roll along the support surface, and a drum carried by the chassis such that the drum is able to spin about a horizontal drum spin axis relative to the chassis. The drum is carried at a height above the at least one wheel such that the drum does not touch the support surface. When the finger is moved down along a surface of the drum, a forward force is created on the vehicle that causes the vehicle to be propelled forward.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Provisional Application 63/334,570, filed on Apr. 25, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a toy vehicle.

Toy vehicles should be able to be easily propelled at high speed and with a simple manual motion.

SUMMARY

Featured in this disclosure is a toy vehicle that is easily propelled forward by the use of a single finger. The vehicle carries a propulsion surface that is configured to be pressed on simultaneously downward and backward by the user's finger.

In one aspect, a toy vehicle that is configured to be propelled along a support surface by the force of a user's finger includes a chassis that carries at least one wheel that allows the vehicle to roll along the support surface, and a drum carried by the chassis such that the drum is able to spin about a horizontal drum spin axis relative to the chassis. The drum is carried at a height above the at least one wheel such that the drum does not touch the support surface. When the finger is moved down along a surface of the drum a forward force is created on the vehicle that causes the vehicle to be propelled forward.

In some examples the chassis comprises a drum support structure that defines the drum spin axis.

In another aspect a toy vehicle that is configured to be propelled along a support surface by the force of a user's finger includes a chassis that carries at least one wheel that allows the vehicle to roll along the support surface, and a backward angled ramp carried by the chassis at a height above the at least one wheel such that the ramp does not touch the support surface. When the finger is moved down along a surface of the ramp a forward force is created on the vehicle that causes the vehicle to be propelled forward.

In another aspect a toy vehicle that is configured to be propelled along a support surface by the force of a user's finger includes a chassis that carries at least one wheel that allows the vehicle to roll along the support surface, and a propulsion surface that is configured to be pressed on simultaneously downward and backward by the user's finger, the propulsion surface carried by the chassis such that the propulsion surface does not touch the support surface. When the finger is moved down along the propulsion surface, a forward force is created on the vehicle that causes the vehicle to be propelled forward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of at least one example are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. The figures are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and examples, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, but are not intended as a definition of the limits of the inventions. In the figures, identical or nearly identical components illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like reference character or numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a toy vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a top view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a partial schematic view that illustrates one manner by which the toy car of FIGS. 1-6 is propelled forward by a single finger.

FIG. 8 illustrates a toy vehicle chassis that includes a drum support structure that holds the drum above a vehicle support surface and that also defines drum spin axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an example the toy car propulsion surface is the outer surface of a drum carried by the vehicle (the toy car) and that is free to spin about a horizontal axis relative to the vehicle. When the finger is quickly pressed downward along the surface of the drum that is closest to the rear of the vehicle a diagonal force is created on the drum. Since the drum is coupled to the vehicle, the force is transferred to the vehicle. The diagonal force results in both a horizontal (forward) force and a vertical (downward) force on the vehicle. Since the vehicle is sitting on a surface the vehicle cannot move downward, but it is free to move forward. The forward-directed (horizontal) force thus propels the vehicle forward.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an exemplary toy car 10. Also, see FIG. 7 wherein drum 12 is carried by vehicle 10 (by support structure 20 that is part of the vehicle's chassis 21). Drum 12 is mounted such that it is free to spin about axis 22, which is in and out of the page. Drum 12 does not touch surface S. Finger pressure on the wheel creates a diagonal force on the wheel and therefore the car. The diagonal force results in both vertical force and horizontal force on the car. Since the car is on surface S, it is not free to move downward, but it can move forward. The forward component of the force launches the car forward as the finger rolls off the wheel.

FIG. 8 illustrates vehicle chassis 21 that includes drum support structure 20 that holds the drum above vehicle support surface S and that also defines drum spin axis 22.

Finger F is pressed quickly or flicked downward on drum surface 14 (FIG. 1 ) in direction 30, causing drum 12 to spin in direction 32. The diagonal force 40 created by the finger results in both vertical force 42 and forward force 44. Forward force 44 propels the vehicle forward. The vehicle could be propelled backward by pressing on the drum surface that is closest to the front of the vehicle, thus creating a backward horizontal force.

The vehicle can take any configuration, shape, and appearance. There can be any number of wheels that allow the vehicle to roll on the surface.

Also, the forward propulsive force created by downward motion of a finger can be accomplished in other manners, any and all of which are within the scope of the invention. For example, surface 14 could be a fixed ramp rather than the surface of a spinning drum. If the ramp is configured such that the finger could move down it without difficulty, for example by using a low friction surface or by using a lubricant such as water, and if the ramp is angled backward from top to bottom in order to create downward and forward forces, the effect may be the same as in the case of a spinning drum.

Having described above several aspects of at least one example, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only, and the scope of the invention should be determined from proper construction of the appended claims, and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy vehicle that is configured to be propelled along a support surface by the force of a user's finger, comprising: a chassis that carries at least one wheel that allows the vehicle to roll along the support surface; and a drum carried by the chassis such that the drum is able to spin about a horizontal drum spin axis relative to the chassis, wherein the drum is carried at a height above the at least one wheel such that the drum does not touch the support surface; wherein when the finger is moved down along a surface of the drum, a forward force is created on the vehicle that causes the vehicle to be propelled forward.
 2. The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein the chassis comprises a drum support structure that defines the drum spin axis.
 3. A toy vehicle that is configured to be propelled along a support surface by the force of a user's finger, comprising: a chassis that carries at least one wheel that allows the vehicle to roll along the support surface; and a backward angled ramp carried by the chassis at a height above the at least one wheel such that the ramp does not touch the support surface; wherein when the finger is moved down along a surface of the ramp, a forward force is created on the vehicle that causes the vehicle to be propelled forward.
 4. A toy vehicle that is configured to be propelled along a support surface by the force of a user's finger, comprising: a chassis that carries at least one wheel that allows the vehicle to roll along the support surface; and a propulsion surface that is configured to be pressed on downward and backward simultaneously by the user's finger, the propulsion surface carried by the chassis such that the propulsion surface does not touch the support surface; wherein when the finger is moved down along the propulsion surface, a forward force is created on the vehicle that causes the vehicle to be propelled forward. 